Supporting survivors of sexual violence in healthcare
Current Newcastle University medical student Elizabeth Evens, and alumni Dr Aysha Haddington-Ahmed and Dr Freya Dodgins, are working to introduce comprehensive, compassionate education about sexual violence for medical students
27 February 2025
Since Autumn 2023, we have been involved in devising medical education initiatives to address sexual violence. As volunteers in the violence against women and girls sector, we know that sexual violence impacts many people in our society; 1 in 4 women and 1 in 18 men have been sexually assaulted or raped as adults. From clinical placement and work, we know that sexual violence impacts patients; these experiences can have serious, longstanding impacts on health needs and health-seeking-behaviour. And from recent headlines, we know sexual violence affects the NHS workforce; 2 in 3 female surgeons report being sexually harassed at work and 1 in 3 have been sexually assaulted by a colleague. Based on these realities, we were motivated to change current medical education practice to prepare students to support patients or colleagues impacted by sexual violence.
In order to address these issues, we organised the first education event addressing sexual violence for medical students in the Northeast in February 2024. We wanted to ensure that students learned about what sexual violence is, its prevalence and health consequences. We wanted to empower future clinicians to respond to disclosures in an appropriate, empathetic manner and to be familiar with the acute care of patients following sexual violence. We also wished to introduce students to issues of sexual harassment in the workplace and identify potential sources of support. To deliver this workshop, we secured funding and worked with key stakeholders, including the medical school leadership and university student wellbeing staff, in addition to clinicians, Females in Northeast Surgical Training (FiNEST), Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland (RCTN), and the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
The event consisted of a panel of expert speakers and a workshop, where small groups of students discussed specially designed inclusive case studies, and a wellbeing watercolour skills session, led by artist Hazel Barron-Cooper. Feedback from the attendees praised the safe and supportive atmosphere at the event. Students also expressed their belief that this training was important and they felt it should be a compulsory part of medical training.
We have shared details of our event at the Medical Women’s Federation and Association for the Study of Medical Education conferences, in the hope of collaborating with and inspiring action at other medical schools. We also provided formal feedback to the Newcastle University Medical School EDI committee and, as a result, the school are introducing sexual violence education at three key places in the curriculum. As of Spring 2025, we are piloting teaching sessions for current medical students, and have extended our education efforts to doctors and other healthcare professionals in local hospitals. We are continuing this work to enhance clinicians’ understandings of sexual violence and raise awareness of local services.